100 ALASKA. 



moldy, and indescribably offensive odor. In early times tbey 

 were obliged to burn blubber very largely, having no other fuel 

 at command than the precarious supply of drift-wood that the 

 ocean-currents might bring them ; but by the terms of the lease 

 they are now supplied with a sutlicient quantity of coal to make 

 them quite comfortable during the winter. 



Since the Alaska Commercial Oom])any have taken posses- 

 sion of the islands, the natives are being quite rapidly put into 

 neat and habitable houses, and plenty of lumber is distributed 

 among those who have not as yet been removed to patch and 

 make comfortable their old huts, and at the expiration of three 

 more seasons the whole population of above eighty families 

 will be occupants of as many suitable, houses, where they will 

 live more healthily. 



The example of the agents of the company on both islands 

 and the assistant agent of the Treasury on Saint George during 

 the last three years, who have maintained perfect order, neat- 

 ness, and industry about their buildings and business, has been 

 a silent but jjowerful one for the better among the people. The 

 intercourse of these gentlemen with the natives is always court- 

 eous, pleasant, and often generous, when deserved; giving 

 the simple inhabitants a slow but steady elevation toward mo- 

 rality, sobriety, and industry, such as they never have had be- 

 fore, having been treated like so many animals by the Russians ; 

 and the conduct of most of the United States revenue and mil- 

 itary officers and men stationed here between the transfer of 

 the Territory and the granting of the lease cannot be described 

 as other than disgraceful, their behavior being marked by drunk- 

 enness, debauchery, and brawls, their habits soon rendering 

 the Biime American offensive to even these simple people. 



The population of Saint Paul is, at the present writing, 220 

 men, women, and children ; that of Saint George, 138. It has 

 neither much increased nor diminished during the last fifty 

 years, but would have fallen off had not recruits been regularly 

 drawn from the mainland and other islands, the births not 

 being equal to the deaths. In view of the great improvement 

 in their condition, it may be reasonably anticipated that these ■ 

 people will at least hold their own, even though they do not 

 increase to any remarkable degree. 



As an incentive and encouragement for their good behavior, 

 they have been assured that as long as they are capable and 

 willing to perform the labor of skinning the seal-catch, so long 



